As one of the world’s most influential designers, Tom Ford has gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford Label. Texas-born Ford began his career when he took a design job under designer Marc Jacobs after graduating from the Parsons School of Design in 1986. He was hired as Gucci’s chief women’s ready-to-wear designer in 1990 and eventually promoted to creative director. After introducing Halston-style velvet hipsters, skinny satin shirts, and metallic patent leather boots, Ford was accredited with putting the glamour back into fashion and with his help, Gucci became an embodiment for desirability, offering the most inspirational and riotous kind of fashion. Ford was also appointed the creative director of Yves Saint-Laurent when the brand was bought by Gucci. Following his years with Gucci and Yves Saint-Laurent, Ford launched the Tom Ford label and established the foundation for his rapidly growing fashion empire. He then announced his partnership with the Marcolin Group, a global leader in the eyewear industry. From there he aimed to manufacture eyeglasses and sunglasses. Since then, Ford has launched luxury lines of menswear and both men and women’s accessories, of which he has received a great deal of recognition for and have won him the “Best International Designer” award and the “American Fashion Designer of the Year” award, among many others. His styles can be found in a number of upscale department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus as well as the Tom Ford boutiques. Lindsay Lohan, Madonna, Joaquin Phoenix and Brad Pitt are just a few of the rich and famous who love Tom Ford’s mainstream appeal and mass-market taste that gives a formal, hard-edged look equivalent to 21st century glamour to his styles.
